# Christmas break with kids in Dallas–Fort Worth, 2026

> What to do with kids in Dallas–Fort Worth over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by three museums, zoos and play places: three say they’re open on Christmas Day and three on New Year’s Day. Plus nine dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.

- Last checked: 2026-10-26
- 3 places’ holiday hours; 18 dated outings
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/christmas-break/
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## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **Perot Museum of Nature and Science**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24: 10am–3pm; Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Closed Tuesdays through April 7, 2027” Source: https://www.perotmuseum.org/visit/hours/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Fort Worth Zoo**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 25: noon–4pm; New Year’s Day Jan 1: 10am–4pm. Their page says: “Open 365 days; some dining, shops and attractions closed on holidays” Source: https://www.fortworthzoo.org/plan-a-visit (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Dallas Zoo**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Open 364 days a year” Source: https://www.dallaszoo.com/general-information/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## Christmas Eve

- **Photos with Santa at Gaylord Texan** at Gaylord Texan Resort, Retail Corridor, 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX 76051. When: Nov 13 – Dec 24, 2026. Time: Reserved 15-minute time slots. Price: Price varies by photo package. Book a time slot online. Official page: https://tickets.gaylordtexan.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=89 (checked 2026-10-26)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **Dallas Zoo Lights** at Dallas Zoo, 650 S. R.L. Thornton Fwy., Dallas, TX 75203. When: Select nights Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: 5:30–9pm. Price: From $19; Patron members and above free; Dual-Passport members 20% off. Official page: https://www.dallaszoo.com/zoo-lights/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Holiday at the Arboretum** at Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas, TX 75218. When: Nov 11, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Daytime 9am–4pm; Holiday at Night 5–10pm. Price: Night $35–$40 (adults and kids 3–12); daytime $17.95–$25.95; under 3 free. The final season of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos. Night tickets are online only; Holiday Cheer nights (Nov 26, Dec 24, 25 and 31, Jan 1) are $15. Official page: https://www.dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/holiday-at-the-arboretum/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Prairie Lights** at Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake, 5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75052. When: Nightly Nov 26–Dec 31, 2026. Time: Opens 6pm; line closes 10pm or at capacity. Price: $50 per car. More than 5 million lights on a two-mile drive. Halfway through is Holiday Village with a walk-through forest, carnival rides and photos with Santa. Official page: https://prairielights.org/hours-pricing/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Christmas in the Square** at Frisco Square, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd., Frisco, TX 75034. When: Nightly Nov 20, 2026–Jan 4, 2027. Time: 6–10pm. Price: Free. A free choreographed lights-and-music show. Walk the square or tune your car radio to 107.3 FM. Official page: https://www.friscosquare.com/cits-overview (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Texas** at Six Flags Over Texas, 2201 E. Road to Six Flags St., Arlington, TX 76011. When: Select days Nov 22–Dec 30, 2026. Time: See the park calendar. Price: Park admission. The park's holiday season, open on select days. Check the park calendar before you go. Official page: https://www.sixflags.com/overtexas/events/holiday-in-the-park (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Frostival at Howell Family Farms** at Howell Family Farms, 4016 W. Division St., Arlington, TX 76012. When: 24 nights, Nov 28 – Dec 27, 2026. Time: Entry 5:30–8pm through Dec 10, 5:30–8:30pm from Dec 11. Price: Kids 4–11 from $16, ages 12 and up from $21, family pass from $60; 3 and under free; parking $10. A trail of lights on a working farm with a 200-foot tubing slide, a snowman show and real reindeer. A Santa visit comes with every ticket through Dec 24. It is closed some nights early on, so check the calendar. Official page: https://frostivaltexas.com/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **CultureMap City Rink** at Main Street Garden, 1902 Main St, Dallas, TX 75201. When: Nov 20 – Jan 5. Price: See the rink page. Official page: https://cityrink.culturemap.com/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Skate the Square** at Frisco Square, Main St at Coleman Blvd, Frisco, TX 75034. When: Nov 20 – Jan 4. Price: $25 with or without skates. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. The rink is at the corner of Main and Coleman. Official page: https://www.friscosquare.com/ice-rink (checked 2026-10-26)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **Noon Year’s Eve at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History** at Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, 1600 Gendy St, Fort Worth, TX 76107. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 10am–12pm; confetti drop at noon. Price: Included with museum admission. Photos, crafts and New Year’s activities, then a confetti drop in the atrium at noon. Official page: https://www.fwmuseum.org/calendar/noon-years-eve/2026-12-31/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at the Dallas Arboretum** at Dallas Arboretum, Children’s Adventure Garden, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 10am–1pm; ball drop at noon. Price: See the event page. The ball drop happens at noon in the Exploration Center Plaza. Official page: https://www.dallasarboretum.org/event/noon-years-eve/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Noon Years Eve at John & Judy Gay Library** at McKinney Public Library – John & Judy Gay Library, 6861 W. Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney, TX 75070. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 10am–noon. Price: Free. An all-ages, kid-friendly party with crafts, activities and a countdown to noon. Official page: https://mckinneytexas.libcal.com/event/17626221 (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Noon Year's Eve at Cozby Library** at Cozby Library & Community Commons, 177 N. Heartz Road, Coppell, TX 75019. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:30am–noon. Price: Free. Activities and a countdown to noon, planned for families with young children. All ages are welcome. Official page: https://www.coppelltx.gov/m/calendar/event/detail/5076 (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Noon Year's Eve at Bedford Public Library** at Bedford Public Library, 2424 Forest Ridge Drive, Bedford, TX 76021. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:15am–12:30pm. Price: Free. A kids' party with crafts, music and dancing, ending with a balloon drop at noon. It's in the library's North and South meeting rooms and aimed at babies through age 12. Official page: https://bedfordtx.libcal.com/event/17710685 (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Noon Year's Eve at Harrington Library** at Harrington Library (Plano Public Library), Plano. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:30am–12:15pm. Price: Free; no registration. Babies, toddlers and preschoolers can come in pajamas for hands-on activities and a countdown to 12:00 noon. Official page: https://plano.libnet.info/event/16723588 (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Dallas Zoo Lights** at Dallas Zoo, 650 S. R.L. Thornton Fwy., Dallas, TX 75203. When: Select nights Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: 5:30–9pm. Price: From $19; Patron members and above free; Dual-Passport members 20% off. Official page: https://www.dallaszoo.com/zoo-lights/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Holiday at the Arboretum** at Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas, TX 75218. When: Nov 11, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Daytime 9am–4pm; Holiday at Night 5–10pm. Price: Night $35–$40 (adults and kids 3–12); daytime $17.95–$25.95; under 3 free. The final season of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos. Night tickets are online only; Holiday Cheer nights (Nov 26, Dec 24, 25 and 31, Jan 1) are $15. Official page: https://www.dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/holiday-at-the-arboretum/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Christmas in the Square** at Frisco Square, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd., Frisco, TX 75034. When: Nightly Nov 20, 2026–Jan 4, 2027. Time: 6–10pm. Price: Free. A free choreographed lights-and-music show. Walk the square or tune your car radio to 107.3 FM. Official page: https://www.friscosquare.com/cits-overview (checked 2026-10-26)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
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## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in Dallas–Fort Worth with kids?
Perot Museum of Nature and Science (Dec 24: 10am–3pm; Dec 25: closed), Fort Worth Zoo (Dec 25: noon–4pm), Dallas Zoo (Dec 25: closed) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.

### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in Dallas–Fort Worth?
On the calendar: Photos with Santa at Gaylord Texan.

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Dallas–Fort Worth?
Perot Museum of Nature and Science (Not listed), Fort Worth Zoo (Jan 1: 10am–4pm), Dallas Zoo (Not listed).

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Dallas–Fort Worth?
On the calendar for Jan 1: Dallas Zoo Lights, Holiday at the Arboretum and Christmas in the Square. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Dallas–Fort Worth?
Dallas Zoo Lights, Holiday at the Arboretum, Prairie Lights, Christmas in the Square and Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Texas. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.

### How do you check these holiday hours?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 26, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).